Invested In Ontario

On Tuesday, May 29th I took part in my first ever electoral debate. Every candidate in the Nickel Belt riding was there—all eight of us. It was an enlightening experience for me and I learned a lot; about myself, about my opponents, and about how politics works "on the ground".

I won't comment on my performance other than to say, I survived. But one thing did become clear during the two and a half hour event and that was how badly our province needs investment. Every party candidate promised to spend, spend, spend.

I'll admit I got sucked into drinking the proverbial Kool-Aid.

When asked what I would do to help seniors struggling to stay in their homes, my answer seemed obvious, "hire more nurses and PSWs". I didn't stop there of course. I argued Ontario needed to provide more funding for existing home care programs and find ways to make better use of current resources—all proposals straight out of the Northern Ontario Party platform.

Having had some time to think on the issue I stand by my answer. But I'd like to tweak it some.

The thing I've noticed about Ontario recently is that we're not just short of money, we're short of spirit…community spirit. And no amount of investment—not even the untold billions promised by our party's rivals—will improve the province until we find a better way to connect citizens to their communities.

Small towns, once the bedrock of Ontario, have been reduced to “bedroom” communities. Places where we sleep but not where we live. Residents are no longer "invested" in their home towns, not like we once were, and that is hurting the province in a hundred different ways.

Citizens used to feel a part of their community, to take pride in its people, its successes, its appearance…but all that has changed. Our hometowns have become much less "homey".

Magnet schools are forcing children to undertake hour-long commutes, regional hospitals are centralizing—and institutionalizing—health care, amalgamated governments have eliminated small town politicians and their quaint neighbourliness, even our pastimes are shifting—gone is the family cinema, replaced by vast multiplexes; small town athletic fields sit idle as kids get bussed to fancier facilities; even the iconic Legion is being forced to cut expenses and shutter halls. The very foundations of community are being lost and with them our ties to each other lessen.

Somewhere along our race toward the future we lost our way. People haven't given up caring. Instead we've abandoned responsibility. "That's the government's job" we say and wash our hands of the issue, trusting the state to do the right thing.

Politicians aren't stupid. They are only to happy to step in and take over. Give the government an inch and it will take a mile. Daycare? After-school programs? Checking in on seniors? These are all strings government can use to influence the voting public…and the more they do for us the less we care for ourselves.

Volunteers are now hemmed in by onerous restrictions and ridiculous red-tape. Do you know how many background checks and clinics a parent has to go through to coach their child’s team? There’s classes and workbooks and tests. You can’t just show up and volunteer any more.

Modern life is complicated. Mow an elderly neighbour's lawn and you're taking money our of some young entreupeneur's pocket. Try and fix a municipal fence and city workers give you the stink-eye. And don't dare criticize the way something's run or suggest an improvement…it's a waste of time.

All the obstacles and frustrations have driven people away. Few even bother to try anymore. And that's a shame.

If we really want to improve our province we need to reconnect with our communities and return to the self-reliant ways of our grandfathers. We don't need more government, we need residents to become more invested.

How do we do that? Smarter attitudes toward volunteerism would be a start.

Why not offer incentives to people who donate their time—including tax breaks for the individual and the organization to which they volunteer? Expand the "Volunteer Hours" needed by secondary school students and offer recognition/rewards to those who go above and beyond. The opportunities are limitless.

As the 2018 election nears the Northern Ontario Party says, "Enough with the big money promises!"

Let's try something different. Together we can improve how Ontario operates. Together we can get the province working again. Not just at Queen's Park but in every little town.

Small changes add up to big differences and the NOP is determined to make a difference.

Mat